Signal device



C. F. SMITH.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1919.

1,336,439, Patnted Apr. 13, 1920.

BMW-1 fo'c 1/100 1. J/wrfi witnesses 6 CLAUD F. SMITH,

0F KALAIX'IAZOO, MICHIGAN.

SIGNAL DEVICE.

Application filed June 7. 1919.

1 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLAUD F. SMITH, a citizenof the United States, residing at 915 Mill st., city and county ofKalamazoo, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Signal Devices, of which the following is aspecilication.

This invention relates to improvements in signal devices.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved signal device for motor vehicles which maybe mounted upon the body of a vehicle in aconvenien't position to beoperated by the driver.

Second, to provide an improved signal device comprising a single signalmember adapted to be manipulated to display dif ferent signal indicia.

Third, to provide an improved signal device having these advantageswhich is very simple and economical in structure. convenient to operateand readily mounted on various makes of automobiles.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A. structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification, in which:

Figure I is a. detail side view of a motor vehicle having my improvedsignal device mounted thereon.

Fig. II is a detail vertical section on a line corresponding to line 22of Figs. I and III, the signal member being shown in its collapsedposition by full lines and in its erected position by dotted lines.

Fig. III is a horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 33 ofFig. II.

Fig.v IV is a detail section corresponding to Fig. II with the signalmember in its erected position, it being reversed from the erectedposition shown by dotted lines in Fig. II.

In the drawing similar reference characters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, and the sectional views are Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Serial No. 302,431.

taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of thesection lines.

Referring to the drawing 1 represents the body of a motor vehicle and Lthe door thereof adjacent to the drivers seat, my improved signal beingpreferably mounted upon upper edge of the door so as to be withinconvenient reach of the driver. The signal member 3 is preferablyblade-like as illustrated and is provided with a spindle t supported bya bearing 5 pivoted on the support 6, the pivot 6 for the bearing beingdisposed at right angles to the spindle. The supporting bracket is inthe form of a plate adapted to be secured to the upper edge of the door2 as shown in the accompanying drawing. The spindle is provided with ahand piece T which preferably terminates in a weight 8 which tends torotate the spindle in its bearing so that when col lapsed the blade ofthe signal member lies in the position shown in Figs. I and II.

To yieldably retain the signal member in its collapsed positionpreventing swinging thereof through motion of the vehicle, I provide aspring detent 9 of V shape the ends of the arms of which are secured tothe support 6 at 10 so that as the signal member swings to its collapsedposition it is engaged by the detent as shown in Figs. II and III.

To assist in turning the signal member to the same position whencollapsed it is provided with a flattened or cam portion 11. with whichthe converging sides of the detent coat-t as the spindle swings into thedetent turning the spindle to the same norma or collapsed position sothat the operator will not be confused in manipulating to present theindicia desired.

In the structure illustrated the signal member has the word stop on oneside and the word left on the other.

\Vith the parts thus illustrated the signal may be swung to its erectedposition and rotated to display the indicia desired and. when releasedthe weight of the signal member is sufiicient to swing it to itscollapsed position. The hand piece is preferably weighted so that italso tends to turn the spindle to bring it to its proper position whencollapsed.

I have not illustrated or described certain modifications andadaptations which I contemplate as I believe the disclosure made willenable those skilled in the art to which my invention relates to embodyor adapt the same as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a signal device, the combination of a supporting bracket adaptedto be mounted on the edge of the body of a vehicle at the side of thedriver, a blade-like signal member having signal indicia on both sidesand provided with a spindle a weighted hand piece at its inner end, saidspindle having a cam, a bearing for said spindle pivotally mounted onsaid bracket, the pivot being disposed at right angles to the spindle sothat the signal may be swung to a horizontal erected position and thespindle rotated to display either side or to a vertical collapsedposition, and a spring detent yieldably engaging the spindle when in itscollapsed position, said detent being provided with a converging portioncoacting with said cam portion of said spindle to turn the spindle inits bearings as it swings on its pivot to collapsed position.

2. In a signal device, the combination of a supporting bracket adaptedto be mounted on the edge of the body of a vehicle at the side of thedriver, a blade-like signal member having signal indicia on both sidesand PIOXlClQd with a spindle having a hand piece, a bearing for saidspindle pivotally mounted on said bracket, the pivot being disposed atright angles to the spindle so that the signal may be swung to ahorizontal erected position and the spindle rotated to display eitherside or to a vertical collapsed position, and a spring detent yieldablyengaging the spindle when in its collapsed position.

In a signal device, the combination of a supporting bracket adapted tobe mounted on the edge of the body of a vehicle at the side of thedriver, a'signal member having signal indicia on both sides and providedwith a spindle having a hand piece at its inner end and a bearing forsaid spindle pivotally mounted on said bracket. the pivot being disposedat right angles to the spindle so that the signal may be swung to ahorizontal erected position and the spindle rotated to display eithersideor to a vertical collapsed position.

4:. In a signal device, the combination of a signal member having signalindicia on both sides thereof and provided with a spindle having a handpiece, said spindle having a cam portion, a pivoted support for saidspindle disposed so that the signal member may be swung to erectedposition and rotated to display either side, a spring detent foryieldably holding said signal member in its collapsed position, andmeans coacting with said cam member on said spindle for turning thespindle so that the signal member will occupy the same position whencollapsed as the signal member is swung to its collapsed position.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two witnesses.

-CLAUD F. SMITH. [n s] lVitnesses:

CLAUDE M. KEEP, JULIUs DEIDOPPEL.

